You notice your baby scratching their eyes and nose, becoming irritable and fussy, and you realize it’s time for them to go to bed. So, you gently rock them in your arms and even hum a lullaby to them. But, does your baby fights sleep? Some babies can resist falling asleep when placed in a crib. You carefully set them in their crib, only to turn around and hear them wail and kick. You must be curious as to what leads to such a situation. Read on to learn why your infant is having trouble sleeping and how to put an end to it.
How To Know If Your Baby Is Fighting Sleep?
Some babies resist falling asleep, even when they are tired or exhausted. Such babies arch their backs, fuss, squirm and kick to ward off sleep, leaving them irritated and fussy. Babies who fight sleep might also find it hard to go back to sleep once they wake up during the night.
Possible Reasons For Babies To Fight Sleep
Finding out why your baby is fighting sleep is important to help them sleep better. Here are a few possible reasons. This usually happens when the baby’s circadian rhythm (biological clock) doesn’t sync with the bedtimes set by the parents. As a result, babies might show sleep-onset latencies. However, if your baby does not develop self-soothing, they might resist falling asleep without parental intervention (2). Sometimes babies may also fight sleep if they have teething pain, cold, or ear infections, so it is best to look for other symptoms.
How To Stop Your Baby From Fighting Sleep?
If your baby is fighting sleep or waking up frequently, you may help them sleep better. Here are a few general tips to help your baby sleep. Observe healthy sleeping habits, such as giving a bath, feeding them, and reading a bedtime story, for establishing a bedtime routine. Also, make sure you place your baby on their back, which is the safest sleep position until they turn one. Next time when your child starts to cry, go into their room to make them feel secure, but do not immediately take them into your arms. Try to soothe them in their crib. Alternatively,you can place the baby’s crib in your room (room-sharing). It allows the baby to have a glimpse of the parent and soothe them self back to sleep.
